Tool-less pick tip assembly, housing, and apparatus, and associated method

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are a pick tip apparatus method interchanging pick tip assemblies within the same. The pick tip apparatus includes a housing having a housing channel. The apparatus further includes a fitting connected to the housing channel. The fitting is configured to accept an external vacuum source for applying a vacuum to the housing channel. The apparatus further includes a magnet and a pick tip assembly. The pick tip assembly is releasably held within the housing channel magnetically by the magnet. The pick tip assembly includes a vacuum cup and a pick tip body. The pick tip body has a pick tip body channel in communication with the housing channel and configured to apply the vacuum from the housing channel to the vacuum cup.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/785,890, entitled “PICK TIP ASSEMBLY,”and filed on Dec. 28, 2018. The contents of that application are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to pick tip apparatuses with vacuum picktips.

BACKGROUND

Conventional pickup tips require tools to interchange one pick tip withanother pick tip. Tools may also be required to properly align the newpick tip. In addition to requiring tools, barb fittings or othermechanical fittings have also been required to hold the pick tip inplace. These approaches have various drawbacks. For example, theapproaches take additional time to interchange pick tip assemblies withdifferent vacuum cup sizes. The approaches also do not insure that thenew vacuum cup is aligned correctly in the X, Y, and/or Z planes ascompared to the vacuum cup on the pick tip that was removed.

Accordingly, there is a need for a tool-less approach for interchangingpick tip assemblies, alone or in combination with a tool-less approachaligning a new pick tip assembly with the alignment of a previous picktip assembly.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a pick tip apparatus is disclosed. The picktip apparatus includes a housing having a housing channel. The apparatusfurther includes a fitting connected to the housing channel. The fittingis configured to accept an external vacuum source for applying a vacuumto the housing channel. The apparatus further includes a magnet and apick tip assembly. The pick tip assembly is releasably held within thehousing channel magnetically by the magnet. The pick tip assemblyincludes a vacuum cup and a pick tip body. The pick tip body has a picktip body channel in communication with the housing channel andconfigured to apply the vacuum from the housing channel to the vacuumcup.

Each one of the following aspects can be combined with the aboveembodiment, alone or in combination with any one or more of the otherfollowing aspects. In one aspect, the magnet can be coupled within thehousing by a fastener. For example, the fastener can be an adhesive or amechanical fastener, such as a set screw. In another aspect, the magnetcan be fixed to the pick tip assembly, and the housing can be formed ofa ferromagnetic material. According to such an aspect, the magnet can beintegral with the pick tip body of the pick tip assembly. According toanother aspect, the pick tip body can include one or more radialchannels configured to connect the housing channel to the pick tip bodychannel. According to such an aspect, the pick tip body can include anannular groove, and the one or more radial channels can extend outradially from the pick tip body channel towards the annular groove. Inanother aspect, the pick tip assembly can include a gasket around aportion of the pick tip body. The gasket can be configured to form anairtight seal with housing when the pick tip assembly is inserted intothe housing channel. According to such an aspect, the portion of thepick tip body can include an annular groove, and the gasket can sit atleast partially within the annular groove. In another aspect, the picktip body can include a proximal portion configured to be inserted intothe housing and a distal portion configured to extend beyond the housingwhen the pick tip assembly is inserted into the housing. According toanother aspect, the vacuum cup can be coupled to the pick tip body atthe distal portion. In such an aspect, the proximal portion of the picktip body can be ferromagnetic. In such an aspect, only the proximalportion of the pick tip body can be ferromagnetic. In another aspect,the vacuum cup can be configured to be removable from the pick tip body.According to another aspect, the housing can include a first feature,and the pick tip body can include a second feature. The first featureand the second feature can be configured to cooperate when the pick tipassembly is seated within the housing channel to circumferentially alignthe pick tip assembly within the housing. In another aspect, the picktip body can include a first beveled surface, and the housing caninclude a second beveled surface. The first beveled surface and thesecond beveled surface can be configured to cooperate to form anairtight seal when the pick tip assembly is seated within the housingchannel.

According to another embodiment, a method of interchanging a first picktip assembly held within a housing with a second pick tip assembly isdisclosed. The method includes applying a first mechanical force to thefirst pick tip assembly for overcoming a magnetic attraction holding thefirst pick tip assembly within a housing channel of the housing. Themethod further includes removing the first pick tip assembly from thehousing channel after overcoming the magnetic attraction. The methodfurther includes inserting the second pick tip assembly into the housingchannel. The method further includes releasing a second mechanical forceon the second pick tip assembly for allowing the magnetic attraction tohold the second pick tip assembly within the housing channel.

Each one of the following aspects can be combined with the aboveembodiment, alone or in combination with any one or more of the otherfollowing aspects. In one aspect, the first mechanical force furtherovercomes an interference fit between a first gasket of the first picktip assembly and the housing channel. The first gasket can be configuredto form an airtight seal with housing when the pick tip assembly isinserted into the housing channel. In another aspect, the method furtherincludes applying a third mechanical force to the second pick tipassembly to overcome an interference fit between a second gasket of thesecond pick tip assembly and the housing channel when inserting thesecond pick tip assembly into the housing channel. In such an aspect,the magnetic attraction holding the second pick tip assembly within thehousing channel can be configured to overcome the interference fitbetween the second gasket of the second pick tip assembly and thehousing channel to fully seat the second pick tip assembly within thehousing channel.

The above summary is not intended to represent each embodiment or everyaspect of the present disclosure. Rather, the foregoing summary merelyprovides an example of some of the novel aspects and features set forthherein. The above features and advantages, and other features andadvantages of the present disclosure, will be readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description of representative embodiments and modesfor carrying out the present invention, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure, and its advantages and drawings, will be betterunderstood from the following description of exemplary embodimentstogether with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawingsdepict only exemplary embodiments and are, therefore, not to beconsidered as limitations on the scope of the various embodiments orclaims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pick tip assembly, according toaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the pick tip assembly of FIG. 1, accordingto aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the pick tip assembly of FIG. 1, according toaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the pick tip assembly of FIG.1, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a housing for a pick tip assembly,according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the housing of FIG. 5, according to aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the housing of FIG. 5, according to aspectsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the housing of FIG. 5, according to aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of the housing of FIG. 5,according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of the pick tip assembly of FIG.1 within the housing of FIG. 5, according to aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional side view of an alternative pick tipassembly within an alternative housing, according to aspects of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various embodiments are described with reference to the attachedfigures, where like reference numerals are used throughout the figuresto designate similar or equivalent elements. The figures are not drawnto scale, and they are provided merely to illustrate the embodiments ofthe present invention. It should be understood that numerous specificdetails, relationships, and methods are set forth to provide a fullunderstanding. One having ordinary skill in the relevant art, however,will readily recognize that the various embodiments can be practicedwithout one or more of the specific details, or with other methods orstructure. In other instances, well-known structures or operations arenot shown in detail to avoid obscuring certain aspects of the variousembodiments.

Elements and limitations that are disclosed, for example, in theAbstract, Summary, and Detailed Description sections, but not explicitlyset forth in the claims, should not be incorporated into the claims,singly, or collectively, by implication, inference, or otherwise. Forpurposes of the present detailed description, unless specificallydisclaimed, the singular includes the plural and vice versa. The word“including” means “including without limitation.” Moreover, words ofapproximation, such as “about,” “almost,” “substantially,”“approximately,” and the like, can be used herein to mean “at,” “near,”or “nearly at,” or “within 3-5% of,” or “within acceptable manufacturingtolerances,” or any logical combination thereof, for example.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, and FIG. 2 is an exploded view, of a picktip assembly 100, according to aspects of the present disclosure. Thepick tip assembly 100 includes a pick tip body 102, a vacuum cup 104,and a gasket 106. The gasket 106 can be any type of gasket, such as anO-ring, that can be used to form an airtight seal, as discussed furtherbelow with respect to FIG. 10. The vacuum cup 104 can be any type ofvacuum cup used in a conventional pick tip assembly.

Referring to the pick tip body 102 and FIG. 2, the pick tip body 102includes a proximal portion 108 and a distal portion 110. The proximalportion 108 is configured to be inserted into a housing channel of ahousing, as further discussed below with respect to FIG. 5 and FIG. 10.In one or more embodiments, the proximal portion 108 can be made of aferromagnetic metal, such as iron, cobalt, nickel, or an alloy thereof.As a result, the proximal portion 108 of the pick tip body 102 can beattracted to a magnet.

In one or more embodiments, the proximal portion 108 of the pick tipbody 102 can be made of a different material than the remainder of thepick tip body 102. For example, the proximal portion 108 can be made ofthe ferromagnetic metal and the remainder of the pick tip body 102 canbe made of a non-ferromagnetic material, such as rubber, plastic,thermoplastic, or a non-ferromagnetic metal, such as aluminum, aluminum,brass, copper, gold, etc. The proximal portion 108 can be secured to theremainder of the pick tip body 102 by any kind of mechanical fastener,welding, adhesive, or the like.

Alternatively, in one or more embodiments, the proximal portion 108 canbe magnetic, such as by being a temporary magnet, a permanent magnet, oran electromagnet. For example, the proximal portion 108 can be formed ofalnico, a ferrite, neodymium, samarium—cobalt, and the like. In one ormore further alternative embodiments, the entire pick tip body 102 canbe magnetic—as described above with respect to the proximal portion108—rather than just the proximal portion 108.

In one or more embodiments, the proximal portion 108 can have agenerally cylindrical shape with a chamfered section 118. The chamferedsection 118 can be used to circumferentially align the pick tip assembly100 within a housing, as discussed below in greater detail with respectto FIG. 10. Alternatively, the proximal portion 108 can have othershapes. For example the proximal portion 108 can be tapered cylinder orother three-dimensional shape to help guide the pick tip assembly 100into a housing channel of a housing.

The distal portion 110 of the pick tip body 102 is configured to extendbeyond a housing (FIG. 5) when the pick tip assembly 100 is insertedinto the housing. The distal portion 110 is also configured to retainthe vacuum cup 104 on the pick tip body 102. The distal portion 110 caninclude a first annular groove 112 around which the vacuum cup 104 cancouple to the pick tip body 102 for releasably coupling the vacuum cup104 to the pick tip body 102.

The pick tip body 102 further includes a second annular groove 114 and athird annular groove 116. The second annular groove 114 includes one ormore apertures 120 leading to one or more radial channels, discussed ingreater detail below with respect to FIG. 4. In one or more embodiments,the gasket 106 sits within and is at least partially retained by thethird annular groove 116 to releasably couple the gasket 106 to the picktip assembly. For example, the gasket 106 can be an O-ring thatpartially sits within the third annular groove 116. The gasket 106seated within the third annular groove 116 is configured to form anairtight seal with a housing when the pick tip assembly 100 is insertedinto the housing, as discussed further below with respect to FIG. 10.However, in one or more embodiments, the pick tip body 102 may lack thethird annular groove 116. The gasket 106 can be coupled or fixed to thepick tip body 102 via, for example, an adhesive and/or mechanicalfastener.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the pick tip assembly 100, and FIG. 4 is across-sectional view of FIG. 3, according to aspects of the presentdisclosure. As shown in FIG. 3, the aperture 120 opens to a radialchannel 122 (FIG. 4) that extends towards the center of the pick tipbody 102. Referring to FIG. 4, the cross-section of the pick tipassembly 100 reveals two additional radial channels 122 similarlyextending radially away from the center of the pick tip assembly 100. Afourth radial channel 122 extends away from the center of the pick tipassembly 100 from where the radial channels intersect at the center ofthe pick tip body 102. Although only four radial channels 122 aredisclosed, there can be fewer or more radial channels 122, such as one,two, three, five, six, seven, eight, etc. Additionally, although theradial channels 122 are disclosed as being evenly spaced apart every 90degrees around the pick tip body 102, alternatively, the radial channels122 can be unevenly arranged about the pick tip body 102.

The radial channels 122 extend toward the center of the pick tip body102 and connect to a pick tip body channel 124. The pick tip bodychannel 124 extends longitudinally along the length of the pick tip body102 down to and through the distal portion 110 of the pick tip body 102.The distal portion 110 includes an aperture 126 into the pick tip bodychannel 124. The vacuum cup 104 similarly has a vacuum cup channel 128that communicates with the pick tip body channel 124. Thus, theapertures 120 are in fluid communication with the aperture 126 throughthe radial channels 122 and the pick tip body channel 124.

Referring to FIG. 5, shown is a perspective view of a housing 500 for apick tip assembly, such as the pick tip assembly 100 of FIG. 1,according to aspects of the present disclosure. The housing 500 can bemade of any material that can withstand the application of a vacuum,such that the housing 500 generally maintains its shape in response tocompressive forces from the environment when a vacuum is applied withinthe housing 500. For example, the housing 500 can be made of metal,metal alloys, plastics, thermoplastics, hard rubbers, ceramics,composites, etc.

In one or more embodiments, the housing 500 can include one or morebrackets 530 for securing the housing 500 to another object, such asarm, another housing 500, and the like. The housing 500 also includes afitting 532, such as a barbed fitting. Similar to a housing for aconventional pickup tip, the fitting 532 can be configured to accept anexternal vacuum source (not shown), such as a hose, a tube, a metalpipe, etc., for applying a vacuum to the housing 500, as furtherdescribed below. In one or more embodiments, the housing 500 can includea member or feature 534, such as a pin, that can cooperate with anothermember or feature of a pick tip assembly for aligning the pick tipassembly relative to the housing 500, as further discussed below withrespect to FIG. 10. For example, the feature 534 can cooperate with thechamfered section 118 for circumferentially aligning the pick tipassembly 100 with the housing 500.

As shown in FIG. 5, and in greater detail in FIG. 6, which is a top viewof the housing 500, in one or more embodiments, the housing 500 caninclude a first housing channel 536. The first housing channel 536 canbe configured to accept a magnet 538, such as a temporary magnet, apermanent magnet, or an electromagnet. As discussed below with respectto FIG. 10, the magnet 538 can be used for releasably holding a pick tipassembly within the housing 500, such as the pick tip assembly 100.Specifically, the magnet 538 can magnetically attract and retain theproximal portion 108 of the pick tip body 102, to retain the pick tipassembly 100 within the housing 500.

In one or more embodiments, the housing 500 can be made of aferromagnetic material. In which case, the magnetic attraction betweenthe magnet 538 and the metallic housing 500 can assist in retaining themagnet 538 within the first housing channel 536. Alternatively, oradditionally, the magnet 538 can be retained within the housing 500 viaa fastener, such as an adhesive, a sealant, a mechanical fastener, orthe like. For example, FIG. 6 shows a set screw 537 assisting inretaining the magnet 538 within the housing 500.

As discussed above, the proximal portion 108 of the pick tip assembly100 can be a magnet, such as a permanent magnet. In which case, themagnet 538 can be omitted from the housing 500. However, in such a case,the housing 500 must be formed of a ferromagnetic material so that themagnet as the proximal portion 108 of the pick tip assembly 100 can bemagnetically attracted to the housing 500.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the housing 500 of FIG. 5, according toaspects of the present disclosure. The housing 500 includes a secondhousing channel 540. The second housing channel 540 is configured toaccept a pick tip assembly, as further discussed below with respect toFIG. 10. The second housing channel 540 is further connected to thefitting 532 such that the vacuum applied from the external vacuum source(not shown) can be applied to the second housing channel 540.

At the top of the second housing channel 540 is the magnet 538.Initially, the first housing channel 536 and the second housing channel540 can be a single channel through the housing 500 that effectivelybecomes divided into two channels by the placement of the magnet 538 inthe first housing channel 536. Alternatively, the first housing channel536 and the second housing channel 540 can instead be two separatechannels that do not touch or pass entirely through the housing 500. Aportion of the housing 500 can divide the first housing channel 536 andthe second housing channel 540.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the housing 500, and FIG. 9 is across-sectional side view of FIG. 8, according to aspects of the presentdisclosure. As shown, the fitting 532 is in communication with thesecond housing channel 540 to apply the vacuum from an external vacuumsource (not shown) to the second housing channel 540.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a pick tip apparatus1000, according to aspects of the present disclosure. The pick tipapparatus 1000 includes the pick tip assembly 100 inserted into thesecond housing channel 540 of the housing 500, shown in cross-section.The gasket 106 of the pick tip assembly 100 and the second housingchannel 540 of the housing 500 are configured to form an airtight sealwhen the pick tip assembly 100 is inserted into the second housingchannel 540. The airtight seal can be based on the interference fitbetween the gasket 106 and the second housing channel 540.

The vacuum applied by the external vacuum source (not shown) connectedto the fitting 532 is transferred to the pick tip body channel 124 bythe fitting 532 aligning with the second annular groove 114 in the picktip body 102, which further aligns with the apertures 120 of the radialchannels 122. Accordingly, the vacuum from the external vacuum sourcecan be applied to the vacuum cup 104, via the pick tip body channel 124,allowing the vacuum cup 104 to selectively pick up and put down variouscomponents by selectively applying the vacuum.

Further, there is a magnetic attraction between the pick tip assembly100 and the housing 500 that retains the pick tip assembly 100 withinthe housing 500, the specifics of which can vary depending on thearrangement of the magnet and the ferromagnetic portion, as describedabove. For example, the proximal portion 108 of the pick tip body 102can be ferromagnetic and the magnet 538 in the housing 500 can retainthe pick tip assembly 100 in the second housing channel 540 based on thestrength of the magnetic attraction. Alternatively, the proximal portion108 can be a magnet and the housing 500 can be made of a ferromagneticmaterial. The magnetic attraction between these two components can besufficiently strong for retaining the pick tip assembly 100 in thesecond housing channel 540, even when the vacuum cup 104 is used toselectively pick up objects.

Based on the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 10, the pick tip assembly100 can be removed from the housing 500 without requiring a tool. Forexample, a mechanical force can be applied to the pick tip assembly 100for overcoming the magnetic attraction holding the pick tip assembly 100within the second housing channel 540 of the housing 500. Specifically,the mechanical force can be greater than the magnetic attraction betweenthe ferromagnetic proximal portion 108 and the magnet 538. In one ormore embodiments, the mechanical force can further overcome theinterference fit between the gasket 106 of the pick tip assembly 100 andthe second housing channel 540.

After the magnetic attraction is overcome, the pick tip assembly 100 cansimply be withdrawn from the second housing channel 540.

Thereafter, a different pick tip assembly, similarly configured to thepick tip assembly 100, but with perhaps a different vacuum cup or lengthof pick tip body, can be inserted into the second housing channel 540.Inserting the different pick tip assembly merely requires applying amechanical force to the different pick tip assembly to overcome anyinterference fit between a gasket of the different pick tip assembly andthe second housing channel 540.

Securing the different pick tip assembly to the housing 500 simplyrequires releasing a second mechanical force on the different pick tipassembly, once the different pick tip assembly is within the housing500, for allowing the magnetic attraction to hold the different pick tipassembly within the second housing channel 540. In one or moreembodiments, a third mechanical force can be applied to the second picktip assembly for overcoming an interference fit between a second gasketof the second pick tip assembly and the second housing channel 540 wheninserting the second pick tip assembly into the housing channel. In oneor more embodiments, the strength of the magnetic attraction holding thedifferent pick tip assembly (or any pick tip assembly 100) within thesecond housing channel 540 can be strong enough to overcome anyinterference fit between the gasket of the different pick tip assemblyand the second housing channel 540. This allows the magnetic attractionto fully seat the different pick tip assembly within the second housingchannel 540. Thus, a user may not even need to fully seat a pick tipassembly within the second housing channel 540. The magnetic attractionbetween the pick tip assembly and the housing 500 can be sufficient tofully seat the pick tip assembly.

The tolerances for forming the second housing channel 540 and the picktip assembly 100 can be configured such that merely putting andretaining the pick tip assembly 100 within the second housing channel540 properly aligns the pick tip assembly 100 in the X, Y, and Xdirections such that no tool is required for proper alignment. Moreover,in one or more embodiments, the feature 534 within the housing 500, suchas the illustrated pin, can cooperate with the chamfered section 118 ofthe proximal portion 108 of the pick tip body 102 to circumferentiallyalign the pick tip assembly 100 with the housing 500. Thecircumferential alignment may be to, for example, align the apertures120 with the fitting 532.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional side view of an alternative pick tipapparatus 1150, according to aspects of the present disclosure. Morespecifically, illustrated is a cross-sectional side view of analternative housing 1101 with an alternative pick tip assembly 1100,according to aspects of the present disclosure. The pick tip assembly1100 and the housing 1101 are substantially identical to the pick tipassembly 100 and the housing 500 disclosed above, except for thefollowing differences.

Namely, the pick tip assembly 1100 includes a pick tip body 1102 thatincludes a first beveled surface 1152 and, optionally, a second beveledsurface 1154. The housing 1101 includes a second housing channel 1140with an angled or beveled surface 1156 that narrows the farther into thehousing 1101. The angle of the first beveled surface 1152 and theoptional second beveled surface 1154 cooperatively match the angle ofthe corresponding portions 1156 a and 1156 b, respectively of the firstbeveled surface 1152 of the second housing channel 1140, where the firstbeveled surface 1152 and the optional second beveled surface 1154 alignwith the second housing channel 1140 when the pick tip assembly 1100 isinserted into the housing 1101. As a result, the first beveled surface1152 and optional second beveled surface 1154 can form airtight sealswith the corresponding portions 1156 a and 1156 b of the second housingchannel 1140 without the need of, for example, a gasket. In one or moreembodiments that lack the optional second beveled surface 1154, thesecond housing channel 1140 can include only the corresponding portion1156 a of the beveled surface 1156. The remainder of the second housingchannel 1140 can take various shapes, such as cylindrical.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it should be understood that they have been presented by way ofexample only, and not limitation. Numerous changes to the disclosedembodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope. Thus, the breadth and scope of thepresent invention should not be limited by any of the above describedembodiments. Rather, the scope of the invention should be defined inaccordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described with respectto one or more implementations, equivalent alterations, andmodifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the readingand understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. Inaddition, while a particular feature of the invention may have beendisclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, suchfeature may be combined with one or more other features of the otherimplementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given orparticular application.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, thesingular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “including,” “includes,”“having,” “has,” “with,” or variants thereof are used in either thedetailed description and/or the claims, such terms are intended to beinclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.”

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.Furthermore, terms should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a housing having ahousing channel; a fitting connected to the housing channel, the fittingbeing configured to accept an external vacuum source for applying avacuum to the housing channel; a magnet; and a pick tip assemblyreleasably held within the housing channel magnetically by the magnet,the pick tip assembly comprising: a vacuum cup; and a pick tip bodyhaving a pick tip body channel in communication with the housing channeland configured to apply the vacuum from the housing channel to thevacuum cup.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnet is coupledwithin the housing by a fastener.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, whereinthe fastener is a set screw.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein themagnet is fixed to the pick tip assembly, and the housing is formed of aferromagnetic material.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the magnetis integral with the pick tip body of the pick tip assembly.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the pick tip body includes one or moreradial channels configured to connect the housing channel to the picktip body channel.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the pick tip bodyincludes an annular groove, and the one or more radial channels extendout radially out from the pick tip body channel towards the annulargroove.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pick tip assemblyincludes a gasket around a portion of the pick tip body, the gasketbeing configured to form an airtight seal with housing when the pick tipassembly is inserted into the housing channel.
 9. The apparatus of claim8, wherein the portion of the pick tip body includes an annular groove,and the gasket sits at least partially within the annular groove. 10.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pick tip body includes a proximalportion configured to be inserted into the housing and a distal portionconfigured to extend beyond the housing when the pick tip assembly isinserted into the housing.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein thevacuum cup is coupled to the pick tip body at the distal portion. 12.The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the proximal portion of the pick tipbody is ferromagnetic.
 13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein only theproximal portion of the pick tip body is ferromagnetic.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the vacuum cup is configured to beremovable from the pick tip body.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe housing includes a first feature, the pick tip body includes asecond feature, and the first feature and the second feature areconfigured to cooperate when the pick tip assembly is seated within thehousing channel to circumferentially align the pick tip assembly withthe housing.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pick tip bodyincludes a first beveled surface, and the housing includes a secondbeveled surface, and the first beveled surface and the second beveledsurface are configured cooperate to form an airtight seal when the picktip assembly is seated within the housing channel.
 17. A method ofinterchanging a first pick tip assembly with a second pick tip assemblyheld within a housing comprising: applying a first mechanical force tothe first pick tip assembly for overcoming a magnetic attraction holdingthe first pick tip assembly within a housing channel of the housing;removing the first pick tip assembly from the housing channel afterovercoming the magnetic attraction; inserting the second pick tipassembly into the housing channel; and releasing a second mechanicalforce on the second pick tip assembly for allowing the magneticattraction to hold the second pick tip assembly within the housingchannel.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first mechanical forcefurther overcomes an interference fit between a first gasket of thefirst pick tip assembly and the housing channel, the first gasket beingconfigured to form an airtight seal with housing when the pick tipassembly is inserted into the housing channel.
 19. The method of claim17, further comprising: applying a third mechanical force to the secondpick tip assembly to overcome an interference fit between a secondgasket of the second pick tip assembly and the housing channel wheninserting the second pick tip assembly into the housing channel.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, wherein the magnetic attraction holding the secondpick tip assembly within the housing channel is configured to overcomethe interference fit between the second gasket of the second pick tipassembly and the housing channel to fully seat the second pick tipassembly within the housing channel.